Jul 24, 2015 1 min read

Jurors found a Smith Township man guilty of first-degree murder Friday in the February 18, 2013, shooting death of 30-year-old Jason Pratz.

Rocco Zuccaro, 29, of 33 Harmon Creek Road, was charged with shooting Pratz, of McKinleyville, W.Va.

Pratz was shot to death at his home in Brooke County, W.Va., and his body was found the next day. Zuccaro reportedly was the last person to see him alive.

The jury deliberated for nearly two hours after hearing about four days of testimony, according to WTOV-TV reporter Jessica Haberley.

Zuccaro’s father, Dean Zuccaro, was removed from the courtroom following an outburst during closing arguments, Haberley said.

WTOV reported Zuccaro bowed his head and plugged his ears as prosecutors delivered closing arguments.

Defense attorney Mike Nogay argued the state fell short in its prosecution.

In March, Zuccaro escaped from a psychiatric hospital in Weston, W.Va., but was captured by a West Virginia state trooper not far from the hospital.